The second beta of iOS 6.1.3 reportedly fixes this security hole.

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The recent release of iOS 6.1.2 may have brought Exchange fixes for some, but to the surprise of security experts, the zombie passcode bypass bug that keeps popping up has yet to be fixed. Apple apparently plans to address that bug in an upcoming release of iOS 6.1.3. The company issued a second beta of iOS 6.1.3 to developers on Thursday, as noted by 9to5Mac, which addresses this lock screen bug in addition to bringing Maps enhancements for Japan.

The passcode bug goes way back when it comes to iOS—it first appeared in iOS 2.0, then in 4.1, and then again in 6.1. As we wrote earlier this month, the current version of the bug requires a more complex series of steps than when the bug existed in iOS 2.0, but performing the right actions can give someone access to your call logs, voicemails, contacts, and more. A video posted by The Verge demoed the trick.

Apple acknowledged the bug's existence last week, and it was widely expected that Apple would fix it with the release of iOS 6.1.2. Well, it turns out that wasn't the case, but the next iOS release is slated to patch this up. Of course, this bug seems to keep coming back no matter how many times it's fixed, so who's taking bets on it making another appearance somewhere around the release of iOS 8?

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Jacqui Cheng
Jacqui is an Editor at Large at Ars Technica, where she has spent the last eight years writing about Apple culture, gadgets, social networking, privacy, and more. Emailjacqui@arstechnica.com//Twitter@eJacqui